Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

2,179 Members
16,355 Posts
0 Online
Muscles & Bones
/ Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

3rd Rheumy apt

deanma
deanma
I told dr my symptoms were worse. Low back ache and hips ache and fatigue. Unable to work. He had me on plaquenil for three wks and prednisone dor a month now. Today he started methotrexate injections. Time will tell.....hoping to be back functional at work.....
lionprincess00
lionprincess00
My rheumy said many do extremely well on metho plaquenil combo. Also, supposedly the methotrexate injections have fewer nausea symptoms than the pills, so that's a plus. Hopefully this is the trick thatyou need to get feeling better.
did he start folic acid too? Without it, symptoms are worse, more hair loss, fatigue, nausea etc. When I was on methotrexate I had to take folic for 6 days, and my metho only day 7.

Feel better:)
deanma
deanma
Yes he did put me on B12 and folic acid. And did a vectra test and ordered tramadol for pain. He took me out of work. Thanx for ur reply.
lionprincess00
lionprincess00
Sure. I was on metho, then switched to arava. It wasn't working and she asked my opinion. I said lets add plaquenil and that's when she said many do well on the metho plaq combo. She said it works on the arava plaq combo too, but she doesn't have as much experience with it.

Being on arava 2 1/2 weeks with zero improvement, adding plaquenil last Friday and today, I'm 80% improved:)
Little encouragement for you:) gl!
lionprincess00
lionprincess00
Side note, webmd and other literature states..Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) and Azulfidine (sulfasalazine) are used for mild rheumatoid arthritis. They are not as powerful as other DMARDs, but they usually cause fewer side effects.

So starting off with it, not the best move on the rheumys part in my opinion, though I'm sure I don't know the entire story and he had his reasons. That's probably why you saw little improvement. Methotrexate is much stronger, and when used in combo with plaquenil it makes for a doozy punch on RA than plaquenil alone. So I'd expect and hope for improvement over the next two weeks.
Grandpa2one
Grandpa2one
Planquenil did nothing for me......I was given a script for arava but refused to get it filled..... Right now, I'm fed up with all the switching that takes place and since August with no results. Looking for a new doctor in Cincinnati's Christ Hospital, one of the finest in the country but for now, I'm taking Aleve and a pain pill when needed. The Aleve does more than any of the meds I've been on. I'm a little sore but can at least function.